While this time around Lewis Black, coming live from his hometown, takes some time in some of his 'bits'. There's lots of story that he needs to cover, or at least the great pauses and inflections that come with them, chiefly his account of his staggering experience at the White House correspondent's dinner (the President has 'handlers' is priceless). But for the most part, Black delivers many of his biggest laughs sometimes by not even delivering the typical punchlines. In Red, White and Screwed, as in Black on Broadway, his approach is to give a punchline- or one that might look like one- and pepper it with a vocal style and slight physical mannerisms that are the most ingenious I see today in stand-up comedy. What might be my favorite section of the special involves this style- or attack- on Dick Cheney going duck hunting, and its metaphor for the middle east. There are other great bits and one liners too, a good deal of which has also been recorded on Black's Carnegie Hall performance CD. If you're coming to this guy fresh not knowing who he is (which is a little surprising after so many years in stand-up and on the Daily Show), it might be hit or miss as he is not for everyone to be sure. But for fans it's quite the new eruption of topical bile with a heap of sardonic wit and perfectly timed pauses, expressions, and anger that isn't thrown at us but is likely the kind we might share (and laugh at) ourselves.
Lewis Black: Red, White and Screwed
(2006 TV Special)
another scathing, amazingly laugh-plenty special from Mr. Black
28 June 2006